As a busy entrepreneur who wears many hats, you probably feel like you don’t have time to create a daily ritual around silence.  But, in my experience, that is when it is most needed. The busier you are, the more your body, mind, and spirit crave silence.

Listen in below and then begin to allow yourself to receive the gift of silence by putting it into practice starting today!

If you already have a daily practice that includes silence, please share what this has brought to your life.  If not, please share what you’re hoping this new practice will bring to you.

As part of reconnecting with who you are, it’s so important to regularly ask yourself this question: What do you LOVE?

Not what’s nice, or what would be fine, or what’s okay. But what is it that you LOVE?

When we’re children, most of us have no problem identifying what we love, and often we’re quite vocal about it.

As we get older, take on more roles, become less sure of who we are as individuals, we often lose touch with what we LOVE.

How about you? Can you easily create a list of 10 or 20 or even more of what you love?

If only a few things come to mind, then perhaps approaching it from the opposite perspective would be helpful. Identifying what you absolutely can’t stand, or dare I say hate, can sometimes lead you to identifying that the opposite is something you really LOVE.

For example, knowing that I really dislike spending a chunk of time on small talk and that it really drains me, can lead me to acknowledging and nurturing the fact that I LOVE connecting deeply with others and going beyond the latest media news.

And, just as your list of non-negotiables can change, what you LOVE changes and evolves as well.

The more you get to know yourSELF, the more you can fully show up in your power.  You’ll feel the difference in your energy, in your mood, in your motivation, in your experience of everyday living.

Your assignment: Sometime within the next 48 hours, set aside 15-20 minutes to create your own list of what you LOVE. And then report back here to share some of your findings. Remember, if it’s hard for you, then approach it from the opposite direction.

The more you know what it is that you LOVE and the more you incorporate those items into your life on a regular basis, the more that everyone benefits in your world and in the world.  And really, lasting change in this world will only come when we are regularly engaged with what we LOVE and more fully showing up for whom we LOVE.

Don’t believe me? Give it a try. I know that you’ll be pleasantly surprised;-).

And don’t forget to leave a comment!

“A list of what?” you ask?

If that’s how you responded, I’m not surprised.  I hear this from women like you quite often, actually.  In addition to the regular demands of everyday living, you’re also responsible for the tremendous task of  running your business and serving your clients.  So who’s got time for this health and well-being foundation to which I’m referring?

A more appropriate question, actually, would be Who can afford not to make the time?

You see, just like we wouldn’t expect our cars to keep running if we didn’t provide them with the proper fuel and regular maintenance, it’s the same when it comes to our bodies.

And yet, sadly, most of us give more attention and care to our cars than we do our own bodies.

But the truth is, our bodies deserve to be respected and honored, not just once in a while when we’re getting a massage (althoughI don’t deny that those are pretty wonderful, aren’t they?), but each and every day.

My request for you, then,  is to set aside some time in the next week to create your own list of non-negotiables, what it is that you require in order to keep the vehicle that is your body running and performing optimally.  Create a list that fits who you are and what you need in your life right now, and know that over time your list can and often will shift as you change and evolve.

Please note:  This isn’t about a long list of goals or more to-dos, but rather a handful of items that are absolutely necessary in order for you to function at a high level.

This isn’t about perfection either.  Let me give you an example to illustrate this.  One of my non-negotiables is my sleep schedule.  Most nights I stick to my schedule, primarily because I know what happens when I don’t (think crankiness, cravings, and zero creativity!).

However, occasionally I’ll choose to stay up later on a weekend if I’m renting a movie with my husband, or if we’ve been invited out by friends.  It’s a conscious choice that I make, and I don’t beat myself up about it.  Instead, I get right back to my regular schedule as soon as possible.

So, how about you?  Has anything come to mind for your list of non-negotiables?  I’d love for you to share one of the items you’ll be including, by leaving a comment.

http://www.myhealthtoday.com/pamper-yourself-with-these-10-ways/

After you’ve given yourself some pampering, leave me a comment to let me know what you did and what it felt like, and when your next pampering session will be!

Reminders can really come in handy, and so I thought I would pass along a reminder regarding this area  (listen in below). 

Whatever your life circumstances, it is of crucial importance for you to spend time each day taking care of yourself.  Certainly taking action helps us reach our goals and is a necessary part of our daily lives, but don’t forget to include downtime and self-renewal activities that fill you up so that you’re more able to give to those in your world from a generous, sincere place.

What will you do today to take care of YOU?

Exercising our “no” muscle is a proven way to protect our energy.  For many of us, this is a lesson that we continue to revisit time and time again.  The article below offers several great reasons to add the word “no” to your vocabulary and to get comfortable in using it more often.

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Top 10 Reasons To Say "NO"

By Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach

This month I said, "NO, I’m not going to write a feature article this month, I want to work on my book instead." As soon as I said that, I realized that there might be some learning (AND an article!) in that decision. Here are the top 10 reasons to say "NO," in service of your creativity and self-care.

1. To say YES to something better.

Right now I’m working on finishing my book, Ten Ways to Thrive as a Creative Artist. Every moment I free up is another moment I can use towards that!

2. Because it’s the truth.

Telling the truth to people in our lives – friends, family, colleagues – can be very difficult, especially if we think it’s not what they want to hear. But hiding the truth builds mistrust and resentment and clouds over true intimacy.

3. To stretch your "no" muscles.

Saying "no" gets a lot easier with practice. Each time you do it, you’re paving the way for the next time.

4. To create or reinforce boundaries.

At the end of the day, you are the only one who has to be pleased with what you’ve done. When you are, you’ll do your best work and be of the best service to others.

5. To break a habit.

Get out of autopilot and make a conscious choice. You don’t have to do what you always do.

6. To demonstrate your commitment.

Show the universe that you’re ready to receive new creative ideas and opportunities, by making it obvious that you’re honoring your creativity and practicing self-care.

7. To help others to do the same.

The dreaded peer pressure of adolescence and people pleasing of adulthood can both also be applied in positive ways. You can be a good influence on the people in your life.

8. To keep your focus strong and your vision clear.

Wallace Wattles, author of "The Science of Getting Rich," says that when you’re clear about what you want and grateful that it’s already on its way to you, the universe will reward you with it. When you’re distracted by every new incoming possibility (described to me once as the "bright, shiny light syndrome"), it dilutes this scientific process.

9. Because you were wrong.

It’s taken many years of self-care practice for me to get to the point where I will go back on something I agreed to if I realize it’s too much for me. Before, I would always push through no matter what the cost (most often burnout and resentment). Now, if I see that I was wrong, I respectfully renege on my plans by giving as much notice as possible, apologize WITHOUT over-explaining, and move on with a clear mind to what I’ve made room for. If thoughts of guilt or doubt creep in, I try to just notice them and let them go.

10. Because you’re not a perfect superwoman/superman.

Perfection is not required. If you show up and do your best, you’ve done your work for the day and you can be satisfied and proud.

Saying "NO" is something that’s worth practicing. Every time you do it, you’ll free up time, space, energy and focus for your creative dreams.

For more about saying "no," see: http://www.genuinecoaching.com/news/selfcare-jan13-2006.html

For more about telling the hard truth in your relationships, see: http://www.genuinecoaching.com/articles/telling-the-hard-truth.html

For more about "The Science of Getting Rich," see: http://www.scienceofgettingrich.net/gifts/everyday_artist.html

© Linda Dessau, 2006.

Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. Feel like your creativity is blocked? Sign-up for your complimentary copy of the popular e-course, "Roadblocks to Creativity" by visiting http://www.genuinecoaching.com